Iowa's Western Boundary | IPTV Search Iowa's Western Boundary When Iowa became a state in 1846, most of the western boundary between Iowa and Nebraska was defined as "the middle of the main channel of the Missouri River." North of Sioux City, Iowa’s border ends at the Big Sioux River, which flows between Iowa and South Dakota. Locating "the middle of the main channel" of the Missouri River has been a big problem. This is because the "Mighty Mo," as some people call it, has changed its course many times. The Ever-Changing "Mighty Mo" The Missouri River was once made of many small streams woven into and out of the main channel, much like braided hair. When spring arrived, ice would block some parts of the river. Unfrozen free streams poured water on top of this ice. Because the river banks could not hold all the extra water, it spilled over the banks, flooding towns and farms. Other times chunks of ice blocked the channel and forced the river to cut a new channel. Sometimes, huge pieces of land were cut off by sudden changes in direction of the powerful river current. Only the river moved, of course. The land stayed put.

Some of these pieces of land became islands. If the river moved a great distance, land near the river could become part of the opposite state. This is what happened to the land on which the small Iowa town of Carter Lake is located. An Iowa Town in Nebraska? Carter Lake, a town of nearly 3,500 people, is very unusual— it is the only Iowa town which sits entirely on the Nebraska side of the Missouri River. There is no way to get to Carter Lake, Iowa, without first going into Nebraska! This was not always true. Carter Lake had been on the east side of the Missouri, just like Council Bluffs is today. It was clearly inside the Iowa boundary. In the late 1800s, there was a quick change in the course of the river. The Missouri River channel shifted 12 miles eastward. This left Carter Lake on the west side of the river— the Nebraska side. Both Iowa and Nebraska claimed this land. In 1892 the United States Supreme Court ruled that the area was still part of Iowa. Even so, there has been much debate over which state should govern Carter Lake.

As late as 1979 Carter Lake residents had a Nebraska zip code. They also picked up their mail at a nearby Omaha post office, and they were not even listed in Iowa phone books! "Mighty Mo" Unchanging at Last Around 1935 projects were begun to straighten and to stabilize the wandering river. The United States Army Corps of Engineers constructed dams, dikes and levees on the river. These structures would prevent flooding and help keep the river channel from changing. The "middle of the main channel of the Missouri River" should finally stay the same and be easy to find. READ MORE Description of the 1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act which opened the area west of Iowa and Missouri, which had been a permanent Indian reservation, to white settlement About Iowa Public Television Iowa Public Television is Iowa's statewide public broadcasting network. IPTV provides quality, innovative media and services that educate, inform, enrich and inspire Iowans throughout the state. A noncommercial, public-service mission enables IPTV to present an unequaled array of programs of lasting value to Iowans regardless of where they live or what they can afford.

More than two million viewers each month turn to IPTV for programming that reflects a range of interests for Iowans in all demographic categories. The Five Major Rivers in the Midwest | USA Today The Five Major Rivers in the Midwest The Mississippi River stretches across 10 states, including the Midwestern state of Missouri. (Photo: Medioimages/Photodisc/Photodisc/Getty Images ) Fishing Hot Spots on the Mississippi River According to the group American Rivers, rivers define the Midwestern portion of the United States; in fact, many of the region's states use the rivers to define their borders with other states. If you are traveling to the Midwest and would like to explore the rivers, you can follow the Mississippi River, go kayaking on the Missouri or camp along one of the other major rivers in the area. The Mississippi River The Mississippi River, which begins in Minnesota, flows south through the Midwest into the southern United States. The river stretches through 10 states and acts as the border for part of Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois and Missouri. Outdoor lovers will find numerous activities along the river; some highlights include walking trails, such as the Great River State Trail in Wisconsin that stretches 24 miles, six of which run through a nature preserve.

Camping is allowed all along the Mississippi River in the Upper Mississippi River Refuge, and campers do not have to pay fees for the unmarked spaces. If you would like to survey the river through all 10 states that it passes through, travel along the Great River Road, an approximately 3,000-mile long trail that began as a network of rural roads throughout all 10 states. The Ohio River The Ohio River starts at the convergence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and flows 981 miles to Cairo, Illinois; at this point, the river flows into the Mississippi River. The Ohio either runs through, or borders six different states, including the Midwestern states of Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. Much of the river provides drinking water for 3 million people, and sport fishermen have found 164 species of fish in the river. However, many parts of the river are considered polluted and unsafe, and some species of fish, including catfish and carp, should not be eaten at all due to safety concerns.

The Missouri River The "Big Muddy" or the "Mighty Mo" begins at the confluence of the Jefferson, Madison and Gallatin Rivers in Montana and flows to the Mississippi River in St. Louis, Missouri. The 2,341-mile-long river, which flows through the states of Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa and Kansas, attracts many outdoor-lovers to its canoeing and kayaking opportunities. However, know that the Missouri River is not for amateurs; during high windy days, waves can overtake canoes. Most of the surrounding land is private, and if you are looking to camp, some free tent-spaces are available in certain areas of the Nebraska sandbars. The Des Moines River The Des Moines River begins in southwestern Minnesota at Lake Shetek, and it travels in a southeastern direction for 525 miles; a portion of the river is known as the West Fork. The Des Moines joins the Mississippi River in Keokuk, Iowa, and also travels along the border of Missouri. If you want to participate in activities on the river, you will find many events, such as canoeing and camping, sponsored by the Central Iowa Paddlers.

If you would like to camp on your own,Yellow Banks Park is a 517-acre park along the river, with camping and hiking trails. Platte River The Platte River flows 310 miles southeast; it begins in the city of North Platte, Nebraska, where the North Platte and South Platte rivers join. The Platte flows throughout the state before joining the Missouri River in Kearney, Nebraska, just south of Omaha. At the Platte River Campground, visitors can camp along the river in the camping spaces for tents and RVs. The campground is often visited during the summer, so advanced reservations are necessary. Other activities include hiking and enjoying campfires on the beach. If you would like to explore the river, outfitters along the Platte River such as The Honor Trading Post (canoeplatteriver.com) offer kayak, canoe and tube rentals. References United States Geography: Rivers Major Rivers in the United States Mississippi The Mississippi River is one of the most important rivers in the United States. It flows 2,340 miles north to south from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico in Louisiana. Together with the Missouri River, it forms the fourth largest river system in the world.

The source of the Mississippi is Lake Itasca in Minnesota. In the early history of the United States, the Mississippi River served as the westernmost border of the country until the Louisiana Territory was purchased from France in 1803. After that, the river was a symbol of the start of the American frontier. Today the river is an important transportation waterway, carrying goods from the middle of the country to the port of New Orleans and into the Gulf of Mexico. The Mississippi River travels through several states including Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. It acts as the border between several of these states. It also travels through several major cities including Minneapolis, St. Louis, Memphis, and New Orleans. Missouri The Missouri River is the longest river in the United States at 2,540 miles long. Together with the Mississippi River, it forms the fourth largest river system in the world. It begins in Western Montana and flows to the Mississippi River just north of St. Louis. It travels through several states including Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri. The first explorers to travel the entire length of the Missouri River were Lewis and Clark.

They used the Missouri to make their way west when exploring the Louisiana Purchase. The river played an important role in the early history of the American frontier as the major trails to the west, such as the Oregon and Santa Fe Trail, began at the Missouri River. Rio Grande The Rio Grande flows 1,900 miles from Colorado to the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way it travels through New Mexico and serves as the southern border of Texas between the United States and Mexico. Major tributaries of the Rio Grande include the Rio Conchos, the Rio Chama, and the San Juan River. Hudson The Hudson River flows 315 miles north to south in eastern New York. It is a fairly short river when compared to many of the other rivers on this page. However, the Hudson played an important role in the early history of the United States. When the Erie Canal was opened in 1825, the Hudson was connected to the Great Lakes. This created a trade route from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes region. It had a major impact in the growth of New York City. Colorado The Colorado River flows 1,450 miles from the Rocky Mountains of Colorado to the Gulf of California.

Along the way it passes through Utah, Arizona, Nevada, California, and Mexico. The river is famous for carving out the Grand Canyon over the course of millions of years. Today the Colorado is an important source of water and power for the southwest United States. The Hoover Dam was built on the Colorado in 1936. It formed Lake Mead and provides power to the city of Las Vegas. Columbia The largest river in the northwest region of the United States is the Columbia River. It stretches 1,240 miles from the Canadian Rockies, through Washington state, and along the Oregon-Washington border to the Pacific Ocean. The river is an excellent source of power and is home to Grand Coulee Dam, the largest power producing dam in the United States. Yukon River in Alaska Yukon The Yukon River is the third longest river in the United States at 1,980 miles. It begins at Llewellyn Glacier in Canada and flows north to Alaska where it proceeds to travel west across the state to the Bering Sea.

Top 10 US Rivers by Length Missouri: 2,540 miles Nebraska | history - geography - state, United States | Britannica.com state, United States (2010) 1,826,341; (2016 est.) 1,907,116 Total area (sq mi) Seats in U.S. House of Representatives 3 (of 435) Central (GMT −6 hours) 1Excluding military abroad. Nebraska, constituent state of the United States of America. It was admitted to the union as the 37th state on March 1, 1867. Nebraska is bounded by the state of South Dakota to the north, with the Missouri River making up about one-fourth of that boundary and the whole of Nebraska’s boundaries with the states of Iowa and Missouri to the east. The boundary with Kansas to the south was established when the two territories were created by the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854. In the southwestern part of the state, the boundary with Colorado forms a right angle (south and west), which creates Nebraska’s panhandle, to the west of which is the boundary with Wyoming .

Lincoln , in the southeastern part of the state, is the capital. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Nebraska grasslands. © David Muench/Corbis As one of the west-central states of the United States, Nebraska was primarily a stopover point for those migrating to the rich trapping country to the north and west as well as to the settlement and mining frontiers of the mountain and Pacific regions during the first half of the 19th century. With the development of railroads after the American Civil War (1861–65) and the consequent immigration, the fertile soils of Nebraska were plowed, and its grasslands gave rise to a range cattle industry. As a result, the state has been a major food producer since statehood. Rivers have been important to Nebraska’s geography and settlement. A majority of Nebraskans live close to the Missouri and Platte rivers, leaving much of the state lightly populated. The Missouri was a major highway to the trans-Mississippi West in the early 19th century. The Platte River has also played a significant role in Nebraska’s history.

In fact, the state’s name is derived from the Oto Indian word Nebrathka (“Flat Water”), a reference to the Platte. Area 77,347 square miles (200,329 square km). Population (2010) 1,826,341; (2016 est.) 1,907,116. Land Don Meyer Relief Nebraska comprises parts of two of the United States’ principal physiographic regions—the till plains of the Central Lowland (in the eastern third of the state) and the Great Plains (which makes up the centre of the state). Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. The Sand Hills region of north-central and northwestern Nebraska is one of the state’s most distinctive features. Comprising nearly one-fourth of the area of the state, it consists of sloping hills and valleys varying from 25 to 400 feet (8 to 120 metres) in elevation. With many small lakes and luxuriant grasses, the Sand Hills area is a superb rangeland.

Elevation in Nebraska rises from a minimum of 840 feet (256 metres) above sea level in the southeast to a maximum of 5,426 feet (1,654 metres) near the Colorado and Wyoming boundaries. Much of the land is gently rolling prairie , although the river valleys, much of south-central Nebraska, and a large portion of the panhandle district are flatlands. Drainage Nebraska lies within the Missouri River drainage system; the Platte, the major Nebraska tributary, joins the Missouri south of Omaha. Although shallow and unnavigable, the Platte is vital to the state’s irrigation. The river is formed by the confluence of the North and South Platte rivers, both of which rise in Colorado to the southwest, although the North Platte swings northward through Wyoming, to the west, before entering Nebraska. The Elkhorn River enters the Platte west of Omaha, and the Loup River , formed by three tributaries flowing out of the Sand Hills, also discharges into the Platte. The Republican and Big Blue rivers flow through southern Nebraska, emptying into the Missouri in Kansas via the Kansas River .

The Niobrara , a swift-moving stream that rises in the high country just west of the Wyoming border, flows across extreme northern Nebraska. The Ogallala Aquifer, a huge supply of underground water that made possible the extensive development of well irrigation, lies beneath most of Nebraska. Soils USA Facts Nebraska’s soils are excellent for agriculture. The prairie soils of the southeast and the humus soils of central and northeastern Nebraska are important. South of the Platte and west of the prairie soil area, the soil is best suited to small-grain production. Winter wheat adapts to the soil and marginal precipitation of western Nebraska. The wind-deposited soil of the Sand Hills, because of limited precipitation and the danger of erosion, is suited solely to cattle grazing. The alluvial soils of the Missouri and Platte river valleys and the valleys of smaller streams are outstanding for raising corn (maize) and other crops. Climate Open Range Nebraska’s climate, like that of the larger Great Plains region, is subject to extremes in temperature, wind speeds, and precipitation. Likewise, there are significant climatic variations from eastern Nebraska to the central and westernmost regions.

Hot winds from the southwest often push summer temperatures in Nebraska into the 90s F (about 32 °C) and sometimes above 100 °F (38 °C). Average July temperatures range from the mid-70s F (about 23 °C) in the panhandle to the upper 70s F (about 26 °C) in the southeast. In the winter, northwestern winds often bring in Arctic air masses from Canada, and temperatures commonly fall well below 0 °F (about −18 °C). Low-pressure systems moving out of the southwestern states sometimes bring great blizzards to Nebraska. Average January temperatures vary from the mid-20s F (about −4 °C) in the panhandle to about 20 °F (−7 °C) in the northeast. The average growing season is about 170 days in the southeast and 130 days in the panhandle. The average annual precipitation varies from more than 30 inches (750 mm) in the southeast to less than 16 inches (400 mm) in the extreme west.

Since a minimum of 20 inches (500 mm) is usually considered necessary for normal crop production, about one-half of Nebraska may be considered semiarid. Plant and animal life Nebraska was the first state in the country to celebrate Arbor Day —in 1872, when Nebraskan politician J. Sterling Morton advocated a tree-planting day to beautify the state’s largely treeless landscape. A wide variety of prairies originally covered Nebraska; now the slopes of the river valleys are well covered with deciduous trees. Cottonwood, elm, and some oak and walnut are found along the bluffs of eastern Nebraska, while conifers grow in the Wild Cat and Pine Ridge highlands and the Niobrara valley. The Nebraska National Forest in west-central Nebraska resulted from a human effort to plant trees on the barren plains. J. Sterling Morton House in Arbor Lodge State Historical Park, Nebraska City, Neb. Milt and Joan Mann from CameraMann Connect with Britannica Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram Pinterest Bison had roamed widely over the Nebraska plains until their near extermination at the time of settlement in 1854.

Some of these animals remain in their natural habitat on the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge, near Valentine. Antelope and deer are also native to the state, as are prairie dogs, coyotes, jackrabbits, skunks, and squirrels. Migratory birds and pheasants are common. Cranes gather on the Platte River in Nebraska during their migration north each spring. Layne Kennedy/Corbis People Population composition Centuries before European explorers arrived in Nebraska, Native Americans had been living in the area. With the opening of the territory to settlement in 1854, the federal government created a reservation for the Omaha people in northeastern Nebraska, part of which subsequently was made into a reservation for Ho-Chunk (Winnebago) people who had been displaced from Wisconsin . Some of Minnesota’s Santee Sioux were forced to move to a reservation in northeastern Nebraska. (The Omaha–Ho-Chunk and the Santee Sioux reservations still exist.) In addition the Iowa and the Sauk and Fox each have a reservation in the extreme southeastern corner of the state.

By the beginning of the 21st century, about 1 percent of the state population was made up of Native Americans, some one-third of whom lived in Omaha and Lincoln. In addition to the white settlers from the eastern United States who came to Nebraska, large numbers of European immigrants settled in the state during the late 19th century. The largest immigrant group was the Germans, who in 1890 numbered 72,000; immigrants from the Scandinavian countries (particularly Sweden), Bohemia, and the British Isles and another, distinct group of Germans, who had first migrated to Russia before immigrating to the United States, also made important contributions to the settlement of Nebraska. Related Topics flag of Nebraska Large numbers of Roman Catholics from Bohemia, Germany, and Ireland; Lutherans from Germany and Scandinavia; and Mennonites among the German-Russian immigrants gave diversity to the religious and secular life of Nebraska. Although the linguistic identity of the non-English-speaking groups has faded with each generation, other aspects of their diverse cultural heritage have survived. African Americans moved to Nebraska early in the history of the state.

While a significant number of them settled in Brownville, Lincoln, and Hastings , others helped form homesteading communities in the Sand Hills. Most settled in Omaha , however, which by 1900 had an African American population of more than 3,400, a figure that by the late 20th century had increased more than 10-fold. This community was concentrated north of downtown Omaha in an area that increasingly became characterized by the social and economic problems common to the ghettos of other large cities. This core of the community declined markedly in population, however, as many African Americans moved to adjacent neighbourhoods. Members of Omaha’s African American community have long been represented in the state legislature; the first African American served in the legislature in 1892. At the end of the 20th century, Nebraska experienced a new wave of immigration that consisted of Hispanics mostly from Mexico and of Asians from Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. Many were recruited for or attracted by job opportunities provided by the meatpacking plants in Lexington, Dakota City, and Omaha. These groups together made up about one-tenth of the total population in the early 21st century.

Settlement patterns In 1857, in accordance with federal law, the land was surveyed into townships of about 6 square miles (16 square km) containing 36 sections comprising 640 acres (259 hectares) each. (This gridlike survey system has remained a basic feature of Nebraska’s landscape.) Most of the towns and villages were built close to rivers and streams. A number of them developed as railroad terminals, but changing patterns of transportation brought growth for some communities and stagnation or oblivion for many others. The most striking trend in settlement since the 1970s has been the steady decline of the population of the rural areas and the marked growth of the cities and their suburbs. Urban growth was stimulated by the mechanization of agriculture, which brought about the working of more land by fewer persons, decreases in the number of farms, and increases in average farm size. Similarly, most small towns, reliant upon the local farm trade, continued to lose population, a condition undoubtedly hastened by a modern highway system that enlarged the trade areas of the cities. Omaha, Neb.

Jupiterimages Corporation Demographic trends From 1990 to 2000 the growth rate of Nebraska’s Hispanic population was about 20 times that of the rest of the state’s population and about three times the national growth rate. (In the early 21st century the median age of Hispanics was about 24, while that of all Nebraskans was about 36.) In general, the number of immigrants entering Nebraska has been offset by out-migration (relocating to another state). Economy Nebraska’s economic development depends heavily on outside investment. The state Department of Economic Development was established in 1967 to bring new industry to Nebraska. In addition, a state law passed in 1987 provided tax incentives for the development of business and industry. Services, manufacturing , transportation, and agriculture are the major sources of income. Agriculture Although Nebraska is one of the country’s leading agricultural producers, only one-tenth of the state’s labour force is employed in agriculture. Nebraska’s farm population peaked in the mid-1930s and has been steadily declining. In 1934 the state had about 135,000 farms.

In 1965 that number had dropped to 82,000, and by the early 21st century there were fewer than 50,000 farms in the state. At the same time, the average size of farms in Nebraska increased from 588 acres (238 hectares) in 1965 to 930 acres (376 hectares) in 2002. From the state’s earliest days, corn (maize) has been its top cash crop—hence Nebraska’s nickname, the Cornhusker State—but sorghum, soybeans, hay, wheat, and dry beans are also important. Nebraska is the country’s top producer of alfalfa (lucerne) and Great Northern beans and also ranks high among the states in the production of sugar beets and potatoes. Irrigation is used extensively in eastern and central Nebraska and is essential to certain types of agriculture in the western part of the state. The introduction of centre-pivot sprinkler systems in the 1970s constituted a fundamental change in the history of Nebraska agriculture because it made possible the cultivation of land that previously could not be irrigated.

The impact of centre-pivot irrigation is evident in the circular pattern now overlaid on much of the traditional checkerboard landscape. Soybean field in Nebraska. © George Burba/Shutterstock.com In livestock production Nebraska is among the top states in the number of cattle slaughtered. It is also a major producer of pork and is important in the production of poultry and sheep. Cattle grazing in rural Nebraska. © Amy Leigh Tjaden/Shutterstock.com Resources and power Crude petroleum accounts for more than half of the value of the state’s mineral extraction. Nebraska also produces some natural gas, as well as significant amounts of cement, lime, sand, gravel, crushed stone, and clay. Additional quantities of natural gas, however, are imported to serve the commercial, industrial, and residential needs of the state. All electrical utilities are publicly owned, and consumer rates are among the lowest in the country. About two-thirds of Nebraska’s electricity is generated by coal-fired power plants. Slightly less than one-third is produced by nuclear power plants, and a slim percentage comes from hydroelectric plants on the Missouri and Platte rivers and at Kingsley Dam on Lake McConaughy in western Nebraska.

Nebraska ranks as one of the top states in the production of corn-based ethanol and has more than 20 ethanol plants across the state. The state has experimented with biomass to produce electricity, but the lower costs of producing electricity at its coal-fired and nuclear plants have impeded these initiatives . Significant progress in the use of wind energy had been stalled until the early 21st century because the windiest areas are in the north-central and southern panhandle regions, where there are fewer transmission lines to carry electricity generated by wind turbines. The Elkhorn Ridge wind farm, near the town of Bloomfield in northeastern Nebraska, is the largest wind-energy project in the state. Lake McConaughy in Ogallala, Neb. © Tamy Nichole Thomason/Shutterstock.com Dam on Big Blue River, Holmesville, Neb. © Weldon Schloneger/Shutterstock.com Manufacturing Although employment opportunities in rural Nebraska diminished in the last part of the 20th century (as it had in rural areas of other states), there has been an increase in the number of work opportunities in manufacturing, notably in the Platte valley, with its excellent highway transportation, as well as in the state’s major cities.

Food processing is the most important industrial activity of the state. Other leading industrial activities include the manufacture of machinery and chemicals and allied products, printing and publishing, and the production of primary and fabricated metals and electrical, electronic, and transportation equipment. Services and labour Nebraska, and Omaha in particular, is known as a major centre of the American insurance industry. Tourism is also essential to the livelihood of the state and ranks third behind agriculture and manufacturing in economic significance. Many of Nebraska’s roads follow parts of the historic Oregon Trail , over which countless pioneers’ wagons passed. The best-known landmark on the trail and one of Nebraska’s principal tourist sites is Chimney Rock , a 325-foot (100-metre) promontory that is thought to be about 28 million years old. Another important tourist destination is Scott’s Bluff National Monument , the focus of which is the land formation that rises some 800 feet (240 metres) above the North Platte River . A rather unconventional attraction is Carhenge, a re-creation of England’s Stonehenge but made out of cars, which lies on the western Nebraska plains near the town of Alliance.

Chimney Rock, Chimney Rock National Historic Site, western Nebraska. © Weldon Schloneger/Shutterstock.com Scotts Bluff National Monument, Nebraska Milt and Joan Mann from CameraMann Carhenge near Alliance, Neb. © Chad Bontrager/Shutterstock.com The state generally has been conservative in labour matters and ranks low nationally in the percentage of unionized nonagricultural workers. Nebraska has a right-to-work law that forbids compulsory union membership. Transportation Nebraska is located on some of the most important arteries linking east and west. Within the state, traffic in the east tends to flow toward Omaha, Lincoln, and Sioux City , Iowa, as well as toward the cities in the Platte valley. Much of western Iowa lies within the trading area of metropolitan Omaha. Freeway in Omaha, Neb. Jupiterimages Corporation Several railroads also operate in the state, and both Omaha and Lincoln are served by major rail lines. Omaha is an important port for commercial barge traffic on the Missouri. Air carriers serving Nebraska include both major national lines and those that provide feeder service to the smaller communities of the state. Eppley Airfield in Omaha is one of the country’s largest airports and the largest in Nebraska.

It offers nonstop flights to many domestic cities. Government and society Constitutional framework Nebraska functions under a frequently amended constitution dating from 1875. Nebraska’s legislature is unique in two ways: it is the only unicameral legislature in the country, and it is not based on party affiliation. Since 1937, following a referendum passed by voters in 1934, it has been a nonpartisan single-house system known as the Nebraska Unicameral. The 49 members, known as senators, are popularly elected to four-year terms following primary and runoff elections in their districts, which are proportioned equally by population. The legislature meets for sessions of 90 legislative days in odd-numbered years and 60 days in even-numbered years. The nonpartisan feature of the legislature has many critics, who charge that the lack of political parties in the legislature results in a lack of leadership in that body. Indeed, nonpartisanship may have enhanced the importance of lobbyists in the legislative process. Nebraska cities. State capitol building, Lincoln, Neb.

Philip Gould/Corbis Nebraska’s chief executive officer is the governor , who—along with the lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor of public accounts, treasurer, and attorney general—is elected to a four-year term on a partisan ballot. The governor and treasurer are limited to two consecutive terms; there are no term limits for the other executive officers. The governor is responsible for the operation of some administrative departments and is an ex officio member of various boards and commissions. The governor must present a detailed budget to the state legislature, which needs an affirmative three-fifths vote to appropriate more funds than recommended by the governor or to override a gubernatorial veto. Other elected state officers also run on partisan ballots. Nebraska’s court system, reorganized in 1972, comprises the Supreme Court, with seven justices , and district courts. In addition, there are conciliation courts, county courts, municipal courts in Omaha and Lincoln, and juvenile courts, as well as a Workers’ Compensation Court. Nebraska has adopted the merit system for selecting judges. Judicial nominating commissions, chosen by the governor and the Nebraska State Bar Association, compose lists of nominees to fill vacancies on the bench. The governor then appoints one of the nominees to fill a particular position.

After three years, judges run for retention on a nonpartisan ballot in a general election, and they must run in similar elections every six years thereafter. Gage County Courthouse, Beatrice, Neb. © Cheryl A. Meyer/Shutterstock.com County government is vested in boards of supervisors or commissioners of three to seven members, who, like other county officials, are elected on partisan ballots. The city manager and mayor-council forms of government are used in Nebraska’s cities, and governmental authority in villages is vested in elective boards of trustees. Nebraska Territory was the creation of a Democratic administration in Washington, D.C. , and Democrats dominated Nebraskan politics until 1860. The following 30 years were marked by Republican preeminence in the state, but the political ferment during and after the 1890s brought not just an end to one-party rule but the ascent of the state’s most famous politician, populist Democrat William Jennings Bryan , who ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. presidency three times (1896, 1900, and 1908). Another of the state’s most influential politicians was Sen. George W.

Norris , a Republican reformer who played a key role in the establishment of the Tennessee Valley Authority . Although a slight majority of Nebraska’s voters are registered Republicans, Democrats have often been elected to the governorship and to serve in Congress. Since the mid-19th century, Nebraska has been a stronghold for the Republican Party in presidential elections. William Jennings Bryan campaigning for the U.S. presidency, 1908. Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. Health and welfare Nebraska’s programs of public assistance include medical aid and financial assistance for dependent children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Federal funding provides more than half of Nebraska’s public assistance expenditures. In 1996 the public assistance agencies of the state were reorganized into three separate Health and Human Services agencies. The state maintains a system of mental hospitals and other specialized health, correctional, and care facilities. Omaha ranks as a medical centre of national significance. Boys Town , a village for homeless children, is 10 miles (16 km) west of Omaha.

Education Since the 1960s, state aid to local governments for education has increased greatly, and the number of school districts has been cut drastically in order to make more efficient use of educational facilities and programs. There are more than 30 institutions of higher education in Nebraska; about one-half are private schools, and the rest are state-operated four-year colleges and publicly supported technical community (junior) colleges. The University of Nebraska (established in 1869) is the largest educational institution in the state and is composed of four campuses—the original and main campus in Lincoln, campuses in Kearney and Omaha, and the medical school, with facilities in Omaha and Lincoln. The University of Nebraska and Creighton University , a private Catholic institution in Omaha, both have schools of medicine, law, and dentistry. Other prominent private institutions include Hastings College (in Hastings), Concordia University (in Seward), and Nebraska Wesleyan University (in Lincoln); there are also state colleges in Chadron , Peru, and Wayne.

Page 1 of 2 Missouri River | river, United States | Britannica.com Missouri River Alternative Titles: Oumessourit River, Peki-tan-oui Related Topics Lewis and Clark Expedition Missouri River, longest tributary of the Mississippi River and second longest river in North America . It is formed by the confluence of the Jefferson , Madison , and Gallatin rivers in the Rocky Mountains area of southwestern Montana (Gallatin county), U.S. , about 4,000 feet (1,200 metres) above sea level. The Missouri proper has a total course of 2,315 miles (3,726 km). Some sources, however, give the combined lengths of the Missouri proper and the Red Rock River (the upper course of the Jefferson River) of southwestern Montana as that of the Missouri River itself, instead of identifying it as a river system made up of both streams. The Missouri–Red Rock River system has a total length of some 2,540 miles (4,090 km), making it the third longest system in North America. The upper Missouri River at Gates of the Mountains, western Montana, north of Helena.

Travel Montana The Missouri first flows northward and northeastward (via Great Falls ) through western Montana before turning eastward across the northern portion of the state. Shortly after entering western North Dakota , it begins to trend southeastward before continuing southward just south of Bismarck into northern and central South Dakota to Pierre , where it again begins to trend southeastward. Continuing through central and southern South Dakota, the river then forms a section of the South Dakota– Nebraska boundary, the Nebraska– Iowa boundary, the Nebraska– Missouri boundary, and the northern section of the Kansas –Missouri boundary. At Kansas City , Kan., the river again turns to the east and, after flowing through Kansas City , Mo., meanders eastward across west-central Missouri before heading southeastward again to Jefferson City . There it makes its final eastward turn, flowing until it joins the Mississippi River about 10 miles (16 km) north of St. Louis . Missouri River basin.

Rio Grande The river’s drainage basin occupies about 529,400 square miles (1,371,100 square km) of the Great Plains , of which 2,550 square miles (16,840 square km) are in southern Canada . The range of elevations within its basin is considerable: from some 14,000 feet (4,300 metres) above sea level in the Colorado Rockies near the Continental Divide to 400 feet (120 metres) where it joins the Mississippi. The flow of the Missouri and of most of its tributaries is exceedingly varied—the minimum flow being 4,200 cubic feet (120 cubic metres) per second and the maximum 900,000 cubic feet (25,500 cubic metres) per second. With unprotected slopes and violent fluctuations in flow, erosion and silting are major problems. Chief tributaries include the Cheyenne , Kansas, Niobrara, Osage, Platte, and Yellowstone rivers, flowing in on the south and west sides, and the James and Milk rivers, entering from the north.

Other tributaries are the Bad, Blackwater, Cannonball, Gasconade, Grand, Heart, Judith, Knife, Little Missouri, Moreau, Musselshell, and White rivers, which enter from the south and west. The Big Sioux, Chariton, Little Platte, Marias, Sun, and Teton rivers enter from the north and east. The Missouri was named Peki-tan-oui on some early French maps and, later, Oumessourit; it has been nicknamed “Big Muddy” because of the amount of solid matter it carries in suspension. Its mouth was discovered by Europeans in 1673—by the French explorers Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet while they were canoeing down the Mississippi River. In the early 1700s French fur traders began to navigate upstream. The first exploration of the river from its mouth to its headwaters was made in 1804–05 during the Lewis and Clark Expedition . For many years commerce on the river was restricted to the fur trade, and the river was little used by the earliest American settlers moving west. The American Fur Company began to use steamers on the river in 1830.

Steamboat traffic on the river reached its height in 1858 but began to decline in the following year with the completion of the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railway to St. Joseph , Mo. Headwaters of the Missouri River, detail from Lewis and Clark Expedition map by William Clark and … Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division, Washington, D.C. Britannica Stories Ringling Bros. Folds Its Tent For the first 150 years after settlement along the river, little was done to develop the Missouri as a useful waterway or as a source of irrigation and power. In 1944 the U.S. Congress authorized a comprehensive program for flood control and water resource development in the Missouri River basin. It envisioned a system of more than 100 dams and reservoirs on the Missouri and certain of its tributaries. Local flood protection, involving levees and bank stabilization, and a deeper river channel were provided on the Missouri itself from Sioux City , Iowa, to the Mississippi, a distance of 760 miles (1,220 km).

By the time an even more ambitious plan—the Missouri River basin program called the Pick-Sloan plan—was adopted in the 1950s, channel maintenance had enabled commercial barge lines to begin operating on the Missouri in 1953. The major dams built on the Missouri were Fort Peck (near Glasgow, Mont.), Garrison (N.D.), and Gavin’s Point, Fort Randall, and Oahe (S.D.). The Fort Peck Dam is one of the largest earthfill dams in the world. The entire system of dams and reservoirs has greatly reduced flooding on the Missouri and provides water to irrigate millions of acres of cropland along the main river and its tributaries. Hydroelectric installations along the river generate electricity for many communities along the river’s upper course. Black Eagle Dam and (foreground) Black Eagle Falls on the Missouri River, near Great Falls, … Travel Montana Iowa Geography from NETSTATE Length x Width Iowa is 310 miles long and 200 miles wide. Geographic Center Explanation The geographic center of Iowa is located in Story County, 5 miles NE of Ames .

Longitude: 93° 23.1'W Latitude: 41° 57.7'N Borders Iowa is bordered by Minnesota in the north and by Missouri in the south. Wisconsin and Illinois are on the east and South Dakota and Nebraska border Iowa on the west. Total Area Iowa covers 56,276 square miles, making it the 26th largest of the 50 states . Land Area 55,875 square miles of Iowa are land areas. Water Area 401 square miles of Iowa are covered by water. Highest Point The highest point in Iowa is on Sterler Farm, north of Sibley, in Osceola County and is 1,670 feet above sea level. The high point was officially named Hawkeye Point in 1998. Lowest Point The lowest point in Iowa is at the Mississippi River; 480 feet above sea level. Mean Elevation The Mean Elevation of the state of Iowa is 1,100 feet above sea level.

Major Rivers Cedar River, Des Moines River , Iowa River, Mississippi River , Missouri River Major Lakes Lake Red Rock Mississippi River, Lansing Courtesy: Iowa Tourism Office Between the Mississippi River on the east and the Missouri River on the west, Iowa is home to some of the most fertile top soil in the world. Its land areas can be divided into three main regions; the Young Drift Plains which cover most of the northern and central parts of Iowa, the Driftless Area parallel to the Mississippi River in the northeast, and the Dissected Till Plains in the southern area of the state. The fertile lands of Iowa makes the state the number one corn producer in the United States. Young Drift Plains: Covering most of northern and central Iowa, the Young Drift Plains are mostly flat, fertile lands. This land was covered by clay, sand, gravel, and rocks, called drift, left by glaciers during the ice age. This drift became some of the most fertile topsoil in the world. Where the drift was not spread evenly by the glaciers, lakes and swamps filled the hollows in the land. Driftless Area: In northeatern Iowa, parallel with the Mississippi River, lies the Driftless Area.

This area was not flattened to the extent of the Young Drift Plains and is characterized by rugged hills and cliffs. What drift that was deposited in this area has been blown or washed away. The soil is thin and not suited to farming. The pine-forested hills are beautiful, however and great for outdoor recreation. It is referred to as The Switzerland of America by Iowans. Dissected Till Plains: The Dissected Till Plains stretch across the southern part of Iowa and extend north, along the Missouri and Big Sioux rivers into northwestern Iowa. Ice age glaciers left glacial "drift" consisting of clay, sand, gravel, and boulders intermingled. This deposit is called till. Over thousands of years, rivers and streams cut into (disected) the terrain forming low, rolling hills and ridges. Bluffs, 100 to 300 feet high formed from wind-blown soil, rise above the Missouri River. Iowa Map, Map of Iowa (IA) Iowa Latitude and Longitude Map About Iowa Iowa is often referred to as the 'American Heartland'. Famous for agriculture-based economy, it is a landlocked state in the Midwestern United States. Its capital and largest city is Des Moines.

Cedar Rapids and Sioux City are other major urban areas in Iowa. The state has 99 counties. History of Iowa The Woodland Indians were the first known permanent settlers of what is today known as Iowa, and were mostly popular for their mound building activities. Some tribes of the late prehistoric or protohistoric period included the Meskwaki, Sauk, Illiniwek and Omaha. Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet were the first European explorers to have entered the land in 1673. Region of the present-day Iowa was claimed by France and till the year 1763, it remained a part of the French Territory. The ownership was, however, transferred to Spain later. In the year 1803, the US acquired control of Iowa through the Louisiana Purchase. After Fort Madison was built in 1808, the US issued military control over the region. Demands for statehood soon surfaced and on 28 December, 1846, Iowa was declared the 29th state of the Union. The capital was shifted from Iowa City to Des Moines in the year 1857.

Geography of Iowa Comprising an area of 56,276 square miles, Iowa is the 26th largest state of the US. It is bordered by Minnesota to the north, Wisconsin and Illinois to the east, Missouri to the south, Nebraska to the west, and South Dakota to the northwest. It is the only state in the US where the western and eastern sides are covered by rivers; the Mississippi River on the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River on the west. The state’s highest point is Hawkeye Point, which stands at an altitude of 510 meters above the sea level. Lake Red Rock, Big Spirit Lake, West Okoboji Lake and Clear Lake are major water bodies in the state. Iowa is blessed to have the most fertile topsoil in the world. The state can be divided into three physical regions: the Young Drift Plains, the Driftless Area and the Dissected Till Plains. The average low and high temperature of Iowa ranges from 6.3 degree Fahrenheit to 86.2 degree Fahrenheit.

Travel Destinations in Iowa A state where presidential dreams take flight, Iowa is a place where one can aimlessly walk back in time and savor in the beauty of the old charm. From the beautiful bridges of Madison County to the quaint towns in Van Buren County, Iowa offers different strokes for everyone. Embark on adventures like snowmobiling or loose yourself among Iowans in a state fair, there is lot more to do in 'The Hawkeye State' than eating farm-fresh corn. Effigy Mounds National Monument is a sacred Native American site that preserves over 200 prehistoric mounds. Herbert Hoover National Historic Site memorializes the life of the 31st US President Herbert Hoover. National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art and Figge Art Museum allow an insight to the cultural legacy of Iowa. Adventureland, Vander Veer Botanical Park, Saylorville Lake and Maquoketa Caves State Park are some of the top places to visit in Iowa. Transportation in Iowa By Air- Des Moines International Airport (DSM) is the gateway to Midwestern US. The Eastern Iowa Airport serves the city of Cedar Rapids.

By Train- Southwest Chief and California Zephyr are the Amtrak trains operating through the state. By Road- Greyhound, Burlington Trailways and Jefferson Lines operate long-distance bus services throughout the state. Education in Iowa The state has the one of the best graduation rates in the US. There are 365 school districts under the Iowa Department of Education. The state has three public universities: Iowa State University in Ames, University of Iowa in Iowa City and University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. Read more here . Facts about Iowa The state is named after a Native American tribe- the Ioway people. Snake Alley in Burlington is the most crooked street in the world. It is a supplier of about a tenth of the nation’s food source. WBAMA040714

Question: Which major river of the USA forms the border between the states of Nebraska and Iowa?
Answer: MISSOURI